20 January 2010
EPA APPROVAL FOR EASTERN TREATMENT PLANT UPGRADE
- $380M upgrade to sewage treatment facility
- Set to greatly improve marine environment at Gunnamatta
- Construction to start in mid 2010 following final Government approval
Melbourne Water has welcomed EPA Victoria’s approval of a major upgrade to its Eastern Treatment Plant.
The $380 million upgrade to the plant, which was built in 1975 and treats around 40% of Melbourne’s sewage, will make it one of the most sophisticated facilities of its kind.
Melbourne Water’s Acting General Manager of Asset Planning, Charmaine Quick, said plans for the upgrade had been through an extremely rigorous scientific assessment before receiving regulatory approval.
“A lot of work has gone into planning this upgrade, including 12 months of technology trials to find the best method for treating the types of sewage coming into the plant,” said Ms Quick.
“At the centre of our proposal to the EPA was investing in new treatment technology to address the impacts of the discharge at Boags Rocks, near Gunnamatta Beach.
“We’re very excited about the improvement the upgrade will deliver to the marine environment, including less ammonia, discoloration and other impacts from treated effluent discharged into the ocean.
“By switching from secondary to an advanced form of tertiary treatment, the upgrade also opens to the door to significantly more water recycling opportunities over time,” she added.
Ms Quick said that with regulatory approval in place, standard procedure for projects of this size meant the upgrade was subject to a final round of Government approval.
Construction of the upgrade is expected to begin in mid-2010 and scheduled for completion by the end of 2012.
The Eastern Treatment Plant currently supplies about 21 billion litres of recycled water a year. The upgrade will improve the quality of recycled water, which can then be used more widely including for toilet flushing, irrigating vegetables, and watering sports grounds.
South East Water and Melbourne Water have identified projects that will utilise a further 7 billion litres of recycled water from the plant following the completion of the upgrade in late-2012. A range of projects are being investigated to use up to 40 billion litres a year in total over the next 30 years.
Media Contact: Andrew McGinnes - 03 9235 7277 M - 0403 930 846